ORTHROS BEGINS AT 8:30AM & THE DIVINE LITURGY BEGINS AT 9:30AM
Website Links: Visit the church's website at www.stgeorgeclifton.org for our online streaming links.
To find the prayers for each service and to follow along, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Digital Chant Stand at https://digitalchantstand.goarch.org.
WE WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY!
We are pleased that you have joined us for prayer and worship. Please join us after the Divine Services in our Fellowship Hall for our Hospitality Hour hosted by the Cammarata family in memory of their beloved family member.
Memorial Services Today For:
Debbie Cammarata – 5 years
May her memory be eternal.
Liturgical Schedule:
Saturday, March 9th – 1st Saturday of Souls………………Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30AM
Saturday, March 16th – 2nd Saturday of Souls……….....Orthros & Divine Liturgy 8:30AM
Monday, March 18th – Small Compline…………………………………………6:30PM
Special Prayers During Church Services:
Requests for Memorial Services, Artoclasies, 40-day baby blessings, Fanouropites, etc. are welcomed. We ask that you please let the office know ahead of time so that we can include your special service in the Sunday bulletin.
Mark Your Calendar:
Sunday, February 25th …………Triodion Begins Today Elementary St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Presentations
Thursday, February 29th ……….Philoptochos “Trusted Chef” Cooking Class – 6:30PM
Thursday, March 7th ……………Philoptochos Tsiknopempti Event – 6:00PM
Saturday, March 9th ……………NNJ YAL Beefsteak Fundraiser – 6:30PM at St. John the Theologian in Tenafly
Sunday, March 17th …………...Forgiveness Vespers presided by His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of NJ at St. George GOC in Piscataway, NJ at 6:00PM
Monday, March 18th ……………Clean Monday – Lent Begins
Sunday, April 14th ………………Greek Independence Day Parade in NYC
Monday, May 5th ………………..Great & Holy Pascha
May 31, June 1 & 2 ……………..Greek Festival
Sunday Sermon:
Please note, that going forward, the sermon will be delivered right after the Gospel reading which means at about 10:00AM. The Divine Liturgy, as you know, begins at 9:30AM and this is the time when all the faithful are called to be in Church. It is an appointment with the most Holy One, will you keep it? Put your best effort forward!
Holy Communion Line:
We remind everyone that the Communion line is to be formed in the center aisle, and once you receive, depart to the right or to the left to return to your seat. Sunday School children and their teachers will come up first. Infants may be brought up to the front of the line at any time. Please remain at your seat, (you may sit if you need to), and enter the center aisle once the Parish Council members indicate that it is time for people in your pew to come up. While you are waiting, you may read the prayers for before Holy Communion on page 76. Once you return to your seat read the thanksgiving prayers for after Holy Communion on page 90. This is one of the most sacred moments of the service, so please treat it accordingly, refrain from talking and be respectful and prayerful. Also, please wipe any excess lipstick from your lips before coming to the Holy Chalice and no chewing gum during services. Thank you.
Sunday School Elementary Oratorical Festival Presentations:
Today, our students will proudly present brief songs and prayers for you as they highlight some of their lessons from Sunday School. Our 5th & 6th grades will be featured during the judge’s deliberations at the Parish St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival on Sunday, March 17th, so mark your calendars and plan on spending the afternoon with us that day; our youth will inspire you!
From The Hellenic Musical Society:
We extend a heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the community of St. George for your support of our recent concert. Your presence, encouragement, and participation enabled us to share with you our God given talents and were instrumental in making the event a resounding success.
St. Paraskevi Philoptochos Tsiknopempti & Murder Mystery Entertainment Night:
All are invited to attend on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Doors open at 6:00PM. Dress up in your most colorful attire! Tickets are $65 for adults and $35 for children under 15 and include dinner & dessert. BYOB! There will also be raffles for a chance to win some fabulous prizes. For more information contact Harriet at 973.432.1009 and htriplet58@gmail.com or Denise at 201.406.2827 and evad54@aol.com.
Stewardship Report:
We have launched the 2024 Annual Giving Stewardship Program and we invite all those who have offered an annual gift in the past to try and maintain or even increase their contribution this year. For those that have never given an annual gift, we need your help. Our community has nearly $40K in monthly expenses and the annual stewardship is the primary program that raises funds for us to meet our obligations. You can make a difference today with your participation. Please visit our website at www.stgeorgeclifton.org to make a gift or pledge. Our community is our common spiritual home, we owe it to God, our founding families, ourselves, our children and their children to sustain, maintain and grow it. We understand that philanthropy is something very personal. Each person is invited to give according to their ability. If you are able, please consider joining one of the following giving levels this year: ($5,000 or more – Grand Benefactors, $2500 – $4,999 – Benefactors, $1,200 – $2,499 – House of Stewards, $800 – $1,199 – Patrons). Of course, whatever you decide to give please know that you have our utmost gratitude and appreciation, and please know our Church is here to serve your each and every need. The important thing to keep in mind is that we need everyone to do something.
St. Paraskevi Philoptochos News:
- Our Philoptochos promotes the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign. In support of this program, we are asking everyone to join the movement and wear red when attending Church services during the month of February.
- Join us at our next “The Trusted Chef” cooking class on Thursday, February 29th at 6:30PM. To secure your spot, please enroll and prepay a fee of $20. Our next Chef of the Month is Peter Kofitsas and he will be preparing Shrimp Santorini. For more information contact Denise at evad54@aol.com.
Walking With Christ Seminarian Benefit Luncheon:
The Metropolis of New Jersey has created a new ministry entitled Walking With Christ. This most important ministry is being offered solely for the benefit of Seminarians from our Metropolis. The First Walking with Christ Seminarian Benefit Luncheon will be taking place on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at the St. Luke Greek Orthodox Church in Broomall, PA. Tickets may be obtained, for $125 each, through the QR code on the flyer that can be found in the "Flyers" section of this bulletin.
Sponsor A Day Program:
One way to help the church is through our “Sponsor A Day” program. We encourage our parishioners to select a day that has special meaning to them like a birthday, feast day, anniversary or a memorial and make a suggested donation of $250. We would like to thank Jerry Cammarata for sponsoring February 25th in memory of his wife Debbie. For more information about the program, please speak to one of our Parish Council members or call the church office.
Saturday of Souls:
This year, the Saturdays of Souls are on March 9th, March 16th and March 23rd. Please bring your own dish of Koliva to the church by 8:45am and place it on the table and submit your list of names to Fr. Peter. If you would like to order Koliva, we are asking for a contribution of $25 per order which will be for a large communal tray of Koliva. Please contact the church office and make arrangements by Thursday before the Saturday of Souls. 973-779-2626 or office@stgeorgeclifton.org.
Memorial Prayers and Koliva in the Greek Orthodox Church:
So, why do we use ‘Koliva’? In John 12:24, Jesus says: “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” The boiled wheat is used in the Orthodox Church as a symbol of our hope in the Resurrection. From the grain that died comes the fruit of eternal life. Why, then, do we call the wheat ‘koliva’? This name comes from a term commonly used during the fourth century, particularly where the following miracle occurred. The Emperor Julian the Apostate tried to have the fruits and vegetables, for use by Christians who were fasting during Great Lent, contaminated! In a dream, Saint Theodore the Tyron appeared to Patriarch Evdoxios and told him to instruct the faithful to consume only boiled wheat (‘koliva’). The faithful responded accordingly and were able to continue the fast! This miracle is commemorated annually on the third Saturday of Souls. Father Anthony Stratis / Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, New Orleans.